The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-18
THE CRY or A GREAT UNION

n
Decay and bankruptcy OF the Miners Union
OF Great Britnir-Poiittcs and Strikes
Have Almost Wiped Il Out-Future Hopes
FROM me London Isecrdph
SIR: We write for ourselves and u number OF
follow workmen, who are employed in or about
tho coal pits on the Yorkshire coal field. Thoro
are tons OF thousands who are OF tho Same
mind as we are. We colliery workmcn spend
our lives In hourly poril; our comrades
daily fall around us: our labor Ia hard.
and exhausts mon curly. 30 that few 1.-Two
to DO old. and the ond to us will probably
be unless IN explosion or other ncci-
don't hurry us out OF llfe) that wo shall spend
perhaps within tho hateful walls OF u work
house, and apart from ovory friend we nave
Cold Is arss ys fSsf 81 aa se
we were al exsosdinay thrifty. took no picas.
might do 80; but we nre as other men are. and,
With tie wages wS earn and thS payments we
mey be sad also has %s shS JON and
80 we do. but old ago along, docs not often on
pay drops to hall q crow, u week ,;somc:imcs.
indeed. to ADJUST enough to enable the guar.
dans to refuse pars reIo Bnt thii s Is mot rot
either practically bankrupt or broken up ALTO
gether. and those that struggle on nro mostly
fmss of Cd [G per week week %hsh can bS Very iii
afforded. some OF tho clubs gave IN their
f sys sS Sna Bad TGrs spe
mens and other drawbncki and thus nas
Miners Union I" and ID we s shall have to answer
Is OF no ns9 SO d.
mont who would do better at home. 1t is tho
Miners Union, or rather tho leaders Of It, that
ont condition. md We intend to have. . union
which shall avoid strikes, secure us fair wage
by nmifnble means: giyG confidence to capIIia,:
and our employers. and establish scheme in
concert with employers by which we shall ,. he
piociaily the latter. il employers. viii help US
10 accomplish such a provision they will be
largely relieved in the matter 81 poor rates
from I men remaining steadily at the Same pits.
is that our union has fallen ON OWL days. and
SO we will tell them. Fret, tho union invested
Barnsley: noxt 1t lost eco 900 at one stroke by
ruino%s investmsaat n eosry somG say
seres OF i IMP and useless strikes which
swnmpod It's remaining funds and involved the
most Intense SUFFERING Then as , & last re-;
The members loft 1t by thousands tsomc say
that afsS 3 ;s and Faph as ong ef IN
hand Of al! tho vast sum which it has received:
while all that the contributors have for their
and an NJ. r. in the person OF Mr.. benjamin
Pickard, whose handsome salary and the
Union play ducks s, and drakes with the seanty
union funds. and leave the members OF the
union poor indeed ,,.ou,,,,,
failed us. we must act for ourselves in making
some provision for sick ness and old age through
saa WEI onr s Nd ming
part OF it is that we pay enough for It. even
now. ourselves. but in such varied and indirect
are unionists pay. regular each week. II in tho
Permanent. as follows:
Gheekysshman. ........... 81.
Miners permanent relief fund I'd
Is Cd.
There are extra occasional payments; as fol
STRIKE fSgnd L. to rs &C., eek sav ssf
mating sota sum s y 2s weeGy "" Which
Witch ws d mSt g 5e ans W. PPs
appeal through your columns to coal owners
and collieIy proprietors to form a small com.
mittea to discuss the matter with US y: and can
Py results ensue which we SO ardenty desire.
OF s Social peace and good viii the INSTRUMENTATION
Of labor and capital and tho, happness and
comfort OF their work people. that will ever be
most gratefully remembered by us all. Should
the scheme We have suggested become an ac-
future without dread 1t vii! be averitable mos
sage Of peace NIL over tho Yorkshire coal Hold.
and the memories OF those who bring 1t about
will be blessed. Please lend us what he n you
can. for 1t is a cruel fate for coliery workmen.
who win. in tho depths Of the mine and at tho
continual risk Of life, the black diamonds which
feed British industry. to endure In old ago tho
mains of dire and bitter poverty,
Please understand that We do not attack the
union as such-wo only complain OF Its man;
agement and its being mado into q political
association. A. well-managed union would be
benefit to both masters and men. as mastcrs
and managers ofton admit. AS It is. good mon
are leaving the union because Of its misman-
aGement. and the heavy and utterly useless
cost 1t. We arc. sir. your obedient servants.
GEO. s. DAWSON. Dartield Main. Barnsley.
CHAs. SMITH. New Oaks Gallery; Dnrnsley.
THos BARBER, Darfield Mnin, Earnsley.
GEO. W1sToE, Mitchells Main. Barnsloy.
JAS. CHERRY. Darfeld Main, Barnsloy.
VIM. BAoSHAw, Houghton Main, Barnsley.
BARNSLEY. Aug. 81.